Climate

The Richtersveld is one of the most desolate areas you'll find in southern Africa, but also among the most beautiful - if you're into hot and barren. It's a harsh landscape where the temperature sometimes reaches 50°C in the summer. It seems so inhospitable that it's a wonder life can suvive here at all, but on closer inspection you'll find that it does.

Summer (November-February) Days are hot. Nights are moderate.
Winter (June-August) Moderate days. Nights can be very cold.
Autumn and Spring (March-May ,September-October) Pleasant Days and Nights.

Rain is not that common in the desert.

Sometimes dew during the cooler evenings.

Day Visitors

Because of the great distance involved in getting to the park, day visitation is not recommended unless some form of accommodation is secured in the area.

Petrol and diesel

Diesel and 97 Octane Petrol is available at Sendelingsdrif. Note that Lead Free Petrol is not available. The nearest supply of Unleaded Petrol is at Alexander Bay - 80 km

Telephones

A Public Phone (Coin Operated) is available at Sendelingsdrif. Cellular communication is not available in the Park. If you have international roaming you can call from a few spots around Sendelingsdrif on MTN Namibia (beware the bill).

Office Hours – 08:00 – 16:00 at Sendelingsdrif

Gate Hours

Banking: It would be wise to conduct all your banking in Port Nolloth or Springbok. Most shops in the Richtersveld towns are cash-only.

Supplies: It is always advisable to have sufficient water supplies in your vehicle. Firewood should be bought, not collected from the veld.

Camping: It is inadvisable to sleep on bare ground as there are many scorpions in the area. Gas cookers are recommended as they are less of a fire hazard in the windy evenings.

GUIDE TO CONSERVATION:

Driving off the road is the most serious crime. It will not simply be a single track that you are creating by driving over virgin soil, because those vehicles that come after you are not likely to consider themselves to be damaging the environment by following your track. Thus a cycle is established whereby new tracks are created. In true desert regions these tracks take centuries to be erased.

The Richtersveld has suffered abuse by careless drivers for many years, and it is up to the National Park to enforce strict rules and the visitors to respect the delicate environment and the rights of those travellers to follow. The rule is simple – keep to main, well-used tracks. Avoid unnecessary U-turns. A single or double track heading off across the sand is not a road; it is a scar trying to heal, and further damage to the wound will only double or treble the healing time. Tread lightly and help to preserve this magnificent place.

Other serious offences include littering and the removal of plants and rocks. Unlike most national parks, you are not confined to your vehicle and walking is encouraged. You may stop wherever you find it interesting and walk, but be careful where you walk as you may trample small plants, particularly in the Kokerboom Kloof area.

PONT:
IA pontoon has been built at Sendelingsdrift, which allows two vehicles at a time to cross between the two countries. see facilities page

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RICHTERSVELD AND ORANGE RIVER RAFTING CONTACT US AT